Today, I want to talk about online training and break down what it’s all about by answering some of the most common questions:
1. Who is it for?
2. Is it effective?
3. Is it worth paying for if you're already doing group runs with a running club a few times a week?
4. What’s the most effective training method?
Let's go step by step:
First of all, triathlon and running are individual sports. In a race like Ironman, athletes spend 8-16 hours alone with their thoughts.
So, you need to have the mental toughness to handle that.
About 70% of an amateur athlete’s training happens in solitude.
That brings us to the most important factor for success—motivation.
If you're motivated by your goals, you don’t necessarily need a coach on the track or in the pool. A clear training plan and regular analysis are often enough.
Most of my athletes fall into this category. They live thousands of miles away, but thanks to modern tech, I can track their workouts as if I were right there with them.
As soon as they finish a workout, I get a notification on my phone with details like heart rate, pace, cadence, power (if they’re using a power meter), elevation gain, and loss. If the workout includes intervals, the system gives me a detailed breakdown of each one!
Then, the athlete gives me feedback, and we talk about where they crushed it or where they held back.
Pretty amazing, right?
Honestly, even when I’m watching an athlete in person, I can’t get that level of data just by looking.
The downside to online training is that it can feel a bit repetitive. Eventually, athletes want to join a community of like-minded people, where the miles fly by and results improve faster.
It can also be expensive if you don’t know how to swim you’ll likely need a swim coach. Running is easier - you can improve your form through video analysis and get feedback on what to fix.
Here’s what surprised me: when I compared the progress of my athletes who only train online with those who attend group sessions, the results were nearly the same.
It all boils down to consistent training and sticking to the plan.
Now, let’s talk about training with running clubs:
Running clubs are a great way to get motivated and join a large community of runners. Memberships are usually affordable, and it's a solid starting point for beginners.
But, when you're in a group of 30 or more people, you might not get enough personal attention from the coach.
For those training for a marathon, I recommend having a clear plan and supplementing it with track workouts under a coach's supervision.
So, is online training effective? Absolutely, especially for athletes who already know how to swim, run, or cycle, who have high motivation, and don’t need someone to push them out the door on a rainy day.
In my opinion, the most effective method is a combination of online training via TrainingPeaks, plus attending at least three in-person sessions per week.
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